I learned a new word today

I like words. I guess I'm a word nerd. I like big words and I cannot lie :) Whoops! I guess I got off on a tangent there, but I really do like words. The last word I learned was perspicacity, which basically means having clarity of vision or intellect which provides a deep understanding and insight. I hope to get to use it in conversation soon.

The word new word, though, is ablution. Ablution is basically the ritual of washing your body as part of a religious observance. My friend Lisa and I went on a tour of the Grand Mosque here over the weekend. When we arrived we saw the most beautiful white building surrounded by several small pools of water and beautiful landscaping. It really is striking to see this huge white building made even brighter by the bright sun of the Abu Dhabi desert.

Before you can go in you have to be dressed appropriately. This means black abayas for women and white kandooras for the men, which they are nice enough to let you borrow.

All ready to go!

After handing over your ID and getting your abaya you're ready to go into the mosque. The building is even more beautiful inside than it is outside. As we walked toward the entrance we took a bunch of selfies (how could you not?) and noticed that there were restrooms for men and women along with a place for ablution.  As I took the escalator down to the bathrooms I admired the beautiful (there's got to be a more fitting word than beautiful but right now I'm at a loss) tile-work on the walls and floor. It was all on a white background but there were intricate flowers and designs all through it.

Anyway, on the way to the bathrooms there was a large round room with small stools sitting in front of sinks. I figured that they were for washing your feet so I sat down to give it a try. Later, when I got home I googled ablution and learned that there is actually a right and a wrong way to do it. I won't get into the specifics here but if you're interested in finding out for yourself, google is only a click away. The cliff's notes version is that you wash your hands, face, neck and head, and finally your feet. All of this is done before entering the mosque or touching or handling the Quran.

Walking into the mosque is quite an experience. It's hard to explain the beauty there. It is honestly breathtaking! But before you can go into the mosque you have to take your shoes off and leave them on shelves outside. There are separate entrances for men and women but a large main area that anyone can go into. I don't know what year the mosque was built but there are chandeliers all throughout and such intricate gold designs on the walls and ceilings. 

I get distracted at my own church looking at all the stained glass windows and paintings on the ceilings, I don't know how anyone can focus on praying in such a beautiful mosque. Perhaps that's how I forgot to say a quick little prayer while I was there :)